Holiday Mini Hero’s

Hola! Greetings from the sunny Balearic Islands in Spain where me and Mr J have been enjoying a bit of R&R. Not wanting to rub it in any further (in case it’s raining over in the UK) and moving swiftly on, I wanted to share with you my holiday heroes. Going on short haul holidays is the perfect opportunity for me to try out those new mini beauty samples that sometimes get lost amongst my everyday products. These samples are particularly useful when going away for a long weekend or, God forbid, only travelling with a carryon bag not a suitcase!

So what are my mini holiday heroes?

Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for lids, lashes and lips £17 for 125ml – This makeup remover is the ideal multi-purpose makeup remover around. This is essentially another type of micellar water but with a unique two-way formula that loosens makeup (yes, that tricky mascara) and wipes the dirt away. Arguably not in one swoop but then what is?! What it doesn’t do is have you scrubbing at your face for hours to remove every trace of makeup. It is also gentle on the face and even though it looks greasy, it doesn’t leave your face oily. At £17, it’s not the cheapest on the market but when you consider that it’s eye, face and lip makeup remover in one, this is one high end economic product that you’ll be packing in your suitcase every time! The Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for lids, lashes and lips* can be bought here.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Facial Wash £18.50 for 150ml – Being away on holiday and being covered in grease aka sun protection lotion all day and the odd bit of makeup here and there, I tend to wash my face more than I usually would. So whilst I want to remove the grease at the end of the day or before I head out, I don’t want to strip away any natural oils that my skin has or that tan that will leave my work colleagues green with envy! So I always opt to use Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Facial Wash. This is the perfect lightweight creamy facial wash that comes out a bit like toothpaste and only requires the smallest pea size amount to clean your whole face. Its non-abrasive formula removes the last traces of makeup and its ingredients include rejuvenating bergamot, spearmint and lavender to rebalance and refresh the skin. The Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Facial Wash* can be bought here.

Origins Clear Improvement Face Mask £23 for 100ml– You’re probably wondering why I’m taking a mask with me while on a holiday. Well, this mask contains charcoal which is great for drawing out dirt and impurities. So after weeks of travelling around battling the elements of daily pollution and having to share recycle air on a plane, the only way to truly feel clean is with a mask. The Origins Clear Improvement Face Mask has the charcoal work like magnet to remove impurities and deep clean the face leaving the skin clean and fresh for some fun in the sun. Best of all, it only takes a maximum of ten minutes to use. My top tip – If you don’t want to use this mask on all of your face then it’s perfect to use just on your T zone or oily areas. I tend to use the mask just on my nose, forehead and chin. The Origins Clear Improvement Face Mask* can be bought here.

Darphin Ideal Resource Smoothing Serum £60 for 30ml – I am a religious primer user, not so much a serum user. Whilst primers are there to create a flawless base to apply your makeup on, serums are there to support the skin’s natural collagen, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and generally protect and restore the skin over time. As my skin had been getting quite a dose of vitamin D, this called for a change in my night time routine. I started with this serum base and ended with light oil. The serum literally melted into my skin (that might have been because I was so hot) but more likely due to its lightweight consistency. My skin felt hydrated and smooth. As it’s only been a few days I can’t say that I look ten years younger. I do, however, look refreshed and bright faced in the morning, definitely a product that I intend on keeping on using. The Darphin Ideal Resource Smoothing Serum can be bought here.

Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream £80 50ml – This is one of the most indulgent face creams that I own (yes I have a full size version at home). It contains marine extract to transform the complexion of the user by reducing the appearance of fine lines, improve firmness and elasticity. I was interested in the hydration factor. Whilst we all need a bit of vitamin D in our lives, prolonged exposure to the sun can be extremely dehydrating. So during the day when out exploring, I wear a small amount of Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream with a high facial sun protectant on top. This also works well on its own and is great to use in winter to really nourish the skin. If you can’t really justify the price tag, then all you need to do is test this out at any Elemis counter to feel the difference on your skin! The Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream* can be bought here.